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“I intend to complete my mandate,” said Fontana, charged a day earlier with three criminal offences relating to federal funds used to pay for his son’s wedding reception in 2005, when he was a Liberal MP and cabinet minister.

Fontana has resigned his seat on the city’s police services board because he must, but said he plans to remain as mayor.

“People call me each and every day to tell me they like what I am doing as mayor and they want me to work as hard as I can with the vision we have all put together and I am confident we can do the work that is necessary to do in the next two years,” he said.

The 30-year politician at the local and federal level, was MP for what became London North Centre and minister of labour and housing at the time of the wedding reception that has spawned three charges.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police laid counts against the 62-year-old Fontana of breach of trust as a public officer, fraud under $5,000 and uttering forged documents. The charges are connected to a $1,700 cheque from Public Works Canada used to pay a deposit for a room at social club in London.

Fontana — who quit federal politics to make a failed stab for mayor in 2006, only to win the office four years later — said he has a mandate from Londoners and is maintaining a busy schedule in the face of the controversy.

The London Free Press broke the story Oct. 19 that questions were being asked about two federal cheques, totalling more than $20,000, used to pay bills at the Marconi Club. An all-party board that oversees MPs’ spending on Parliament Hill had called in the RCMP.

Fontana’s lawyer, Gord Cudmore said Thursday the Fontana family paid for the June 5, 2005 wedding reception for Fontana’s son, Michael, held at the club.

“The allegations at present pertain to a $1,700 room deposit,” he said. “The RCMP have documentation proving it (another $18,900) was paid by the Fontana family. I haven’t seen it, but that is my understanding.”

Cudmore said “there is a very, very valid defence to these allegations,” and Fontana would plead not guilty in the case he predicted could be before the courts for a year.

Fontana told about 25 reporters the charges won’t be a distraction to him and won’t dissuade investors from looking at London.

“Absolutely not,” he declared. “London is a great city. We have a lot to offer. In fact, two days ago I met with Japanese investors.”

Asked why mayors in Montreal and Laval, Que., resigned while they were being investigated, but he would not, Fontana replied: “I can lead and that was their choice. That’s not my choice . . . my choice is to stay and do the job and work with my colleagues, work with the community.”

Fontana, who had said very little since word of the RCMP proble became public, made a brief opening statement after which he and Cudmore fielded questions.

Outside Cudmore’s law office, about 25 members of Occupy London chanted and carried signs demanding Fontana step down.

One sign read: “Hey Sloppy Joe. This taxpayer wants a mayor with integrity.”

Occupy protestor Alexandra Baron said she’s concerned city council won’t get important work done with Fontana under a cloud of suspicion.

She said money is needed for social programs and housing.

Baron said she was among the group of Occupy London protestors Fontana had evicted from Victoria Park. Now, the group wants to evict him from his mayoral office.

I truly understand and realize some anguish and pain and disappointment, frustration, anger that has been caused by this incident. I feel it right here (touches chest near his heart) for the people of London, for my family, for my colleagues, for those who have supported me, for those people who care about our city.

I love our city. We have an incredible glorious past, a great present and an even greater future. I am innocent of all of these charges and I intend to fight as hard as I possibly can to clear my name.

You know, just about two years ago I and my colleagues were given a mandate by the citizens of London. The weather was a little different, as you can remember. We had Snowmageddon. That’s when the city came together, worked together, helped one another to get us through that storm. We learned that by working together we can accomplish an awful lot.

Just two or three days ago I produced a report for council that spoke about what we have been able to accomplish by working together — not only the 15 members of council, but Londoners, business, labour, community groups, all coming together wanting to create one of the best cities, I believe, in the country, and in the world. That’s our mandate.

Last night I submitted my resignation to the police services board, but today I am telling you I was given a mandate, a responsibility, an obligation to lead this city, to work with my colleagues, to work with the community to create that great city that we all want.

Each and every day men and women wake up each and every morning working for their families, working to make this a great city. And London is greater than just one person.

Thank you very much.

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FONTANA'S NEWS CONFERENCE: HIGHLIGHTS

Joe Fontana breaks a month of silence to declare his innocence, vowing to fight the charges the RCMP laid against him this week and to do so without vacating the mayor’s chair.

Q: Your support on council seems to be chipped away. How can you push through a budget, push through a third straight tax freeze when some members of your voting bloc say they’re not comfortable with the situation?

Cudmore: Don’t answer that.

Q: Will fighting these (criminal) charges be a distraction?

Fontana: Absolutely not.

Q: A distraction for investors you are trying to bring to London?

Fontana: Absolutely not. London is a great city. We have a lot to offer. In fact, two days ago, I met with Japanese investors . . .

Q: (On why he’s remaining in office, when other mayors — like those swept up in the fallout of the inquiry looking into allegations of corruption in Quebec’s construction industry — have stepped aside without being charged.)

Fontana: I can lead and that was their choice. That’s not my choice . . . my choice is to stay and do my job and work with my colleagues, work with the community. Because we have accomplished a lot in the last two years . . .

Q: Do you think you have the support of the city by and large?

Fontana: I think so, based on a lot of things. People call me each and every day to tell me they like what I am doing as mayor and they want me to work as hard as I can with the vision we have all put together . . .

Q: Who would be footing the bill for your services, Gord (Cudmore)?

Cudmore: Mr. Fontana.

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COUNCIL REACTION: What some politicians are saying about Fontana staying put as mayor.

COUN. JONI BAECHLER:

“Requesting Mayor Fontana step aside is not making any assertion with respect to innocence or guilt. It is a highly appropriate request given my fiduciary responsibility to the city”

COUN. BUD POLHILL:

“I have 3,500 people who elected me in my ward. And I represent them. I can’t let distractions stop me from representing them. All I’m saying is it’s his decision, not mine. I can’t force him to do anything. I don’t know what I would advise him to do.”

COUN PAUL HUBERT:

“I’m not surprised (he’s staying); however, I’m disappointed that the mayor didn’t step aside until the matter is cleared up. Those of us at council will have to refocus our attention.”